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The faun (from the Latin faunus) was a rustic forest god or goddess of Roman mythology often associated with enchanted woods and the Greek god Pan and his satyrs. Cymbals are said to have been played for orgiastic rituals with music and dancing. The image of the dancing faun with cymbals used here may refer to the Medici faun in the Tribuna room of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The other image of the faun dancing with a circle may suggest a ritual dance in a circle.
The bench has been reupholstered in medium green leather on the seat and the tops of the arms.
See also the Oscar Bach ferneries, 1922.2.229 and 1922.2.230, that incorporate the same elements in their design, but in a different configuration.
ProvenanceFrom 1964
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem, NC, acquired in 1964. [1]
Notes:
[1] In the early 1960s Charles H. Babcock (1899-1967) gave the house and its contents to the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. The house was then incorporated as a museum and collection (Reynolda House, Inc.) on December 18, 1964 with the signing of the charter at its first board meeting. The museum first opened to the public in September 1965.
DepartmentHistoric House
Bench
Maker
Oscar B. Bach
(1884 - 1957)
Date1920s
Mediumbronze, brass and iron (with leather upholstery)
DimensionsOverall [with cushions]: 27 5/8 × 54 3/4 × 15 5/8 in. (70.2 × 139.1 × 39.7 cm)
Overall [without cushions]: 25 5/8 × 54 3/4 × 15 5/8 in. (65.1 × 139.1 × 39.7 cm)
Credit LineReynolda Estate
CopyrightPublic Domain
Object number1922.2.239
DescriptionThe rectangular bench of mixed metals with pierced ornament in the style of the Renaissance, has two tall arms and a flat seat. Twisted and notched pillars define the square outline of the arms and support the seat. Each arm encloses a square pierced plate with roundels, each of which contains the figure of a faun. On one side the faun holds cymbals; on the other, the faun holds a large circle. Between the legs of the bench on each end is a rectangular panel containing stylized ornaments, including a grape cluster, bellflower, leaf, sunburst, fig, etc., that are united by scrolls with small curls. The faun (from the Latin faunus) was a rustic forest god or goddess of Roman mythology often associated with enchanted woods and the Greek god Pan and his satyrs. Cymbals are said to have been played for orgiastic rituals with music and dancing. The image of the dancing faun with cymbals used here may refer to the Medici faun in the Tribuna room of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The other image of the faun dancing with a circle may suggest a ritual dance in a circle.
The bench has been reupholstered in medium green leather on the seat and the tops of the arms.
See also the Oscar Bach ferneries, 1922.2.229 and 1922.2.230, that incorporate the same elements in their design, but in a different configuration.
ProvenanceFrom 1964
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Winston-Salem, NC, acquired in 1964. [1]
Notes:
[1] In the early 1960s Charles H. Babcock (1899-1967) gave the house and its contents to the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. The house was then incorporated as a museum and collection (Reynolda House, Inc.) on December 18, 1964 with the signing of the charter at its first board meeting. The museum first opened to the public in September 1965.
Status
On viewcirca 1917
circa 1917
1916-1917
circa 1917